Lily, My Lovely by Lena Kennedy

Author:Lena Kennedy [Kennedy, Lena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-05-08T23:00:00+00:00

3

A Trip to London

Overwhelmed by a deep sense of guilt, Lily kept her nose to the grindstone for two weeks. Once Avril was back at school, Lily spent most of her time helping Norman load up boxes of tomatoes and cucumbers onto the old truck for him to take to market. She weeded the garden and hoed the big field, which was planted with winter cabbages. She had plenty of energy and got through plenty of work in one day, but by the time she had prepared the evening meal as well, she had just about had enough. It was late autumn and the sunsets were glorious. A mist lay out on the hills most of the time and rainbow colours floated over the horizon. The big coal stove was lit and in the sitting room there was a log fire in the evenings. It was cosy and warm, and the evenings were spent in a very leisurely way, reading or sewing, and Lily had a renewed contentment. The ache in her heart was not there any more. She often thought of Kasie but in a dreamy kind of way as if that holiday had fulfilled her needs.

One evening after she had taken the dogs for a walk she hung up her raincoat. She noticed a piece of paper sticking out of the pocket, and pulled it out. ‘What’s this?’ she thought. There was a London telephone number and beside it was written: Cumberland Hotel, November 6. Immediately, memories came racing home of Kasie and herself close together on that lonely beach. She made as if to tear the paper into shreds but instead she rushed upstairs and hid it in an old handbag at the bottom of the wardrobe.

Later she made a big meat pudding for dinner and took great care with the cold sweet. She still liked to cook but her mind was disturbed. Why should she worry? Kasie could never find her, he did not know where she lived. Then another worry flashed up. What if he had made her pregnant again? She sat down as her knees went weak at the thought. That would put the cat among the pigeons. She was Mrs Brown legally but neither George nor Norman was capable of making her pregnant. How would she ever get out of that one? She didn’t know what to think, her mind was in a muddle. Perhaps she ought to see Kasie one more time to tell him that it really was over, that he should never raise his hopes again. Yes, she would do that, it was necessary.

‘Why so pensive, Lily?’ Norman had noticed how quiet she was being. ‘Got fed up with your magazines?’

‘No,’ said Lily, ‘I was thinking of going to the sales in two weeks’ time. There’s Selfridges and then one at C & A’s.’

‘In London?’ asked Norman, a little amazed.

‘Where else?’ replied Lily.

‘It’s a good long trot in one day, and the money you save at the sale would be spent on fares,’ returned Norman in his practical manner.

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